September 17, 2010

NYP: An All-Out Yankee Collapse Is Not Out Of The Question

[T]his is not just about gaining first place in the AL East, it's about making sure to lock up a playoff spot. Don't look over your shoulders, Yankees, because the Red Sox aren't dead yet. ...

The second-place Yankees lead the Red Sox by six games with 16 left to play. It would take a collapse of 2007 Mets-like proportions to miss the playoffs. That collapse taught everyone, including yours truly, not to take anything for granted. ... Then there is that little matter of the 2004 ALCS, when the Yankees were up 3-0 against the Red Sox. ...

[A]n all-out collapse for the 2010 Yankees is not out of the question, especially with a schedule that includes four more games against the Rays and six against the Red Sox.

As crazy as it sounds, Boston actually now controls its own destiny again – as long as the Red Sox stay within six games since they have those six games against the Yankees. ...

[The Yankees] have lost eight of 10, and their only wins came on a walk-off homer by Nick Swisher that avoided a sweep in the Bronx against the Orioles and a 10th-inning homer by Jorge Posada ... Those homers are all that stand between the Yankees and potentially a 10-game losing streak ...

If the Yankees blow this and fall completely out of the playoffs, they will rival the 2007 Mets and the 1964 Phillies for all-time choke jobs. This was a 10-game playoff lead over the Red Sox with 26 to play. It would be as bad as blowing that three-games-to-none lead vs. Boston in the 2004 ALCS. And that is a factor here.

Because the Yankees do not want to allow Boston to get close enough – if the Red Sox aren't there already – so that the Yankees get this in their heads and play tighter and tighter. The double-stain of 2004 and blowing this lead would historically and negatively mark the Yankees of this era even with last year's championship.

I assume Sherman meant "all time in-season choke jobs", because as RS notes, the '04 ALCS is at the top of the list.

I have to say, as someone who has given up on the Sox making the playoffs but still watches all the games, its fun to see the NYers squirm. Hopefully we can put a good scare into them (or more) before the season ends.